Machine for operating upon sheet material



Jan 14, 1936.

L.S MACDONALD MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SIflEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 15, 1932 3 SheetsSheet l //v vf/v TUE;

$611529 L. s. wmsmormm ZflLZT/Ag MACIUNE FOR OPERATiNG UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 15, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 14, 1936. L. s. MACDONALD v zmzmqs MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 15, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOB, OPERATING UPON SHEET MATERIAL Application December 15, 1932, Serial No. 647,422

42 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for operating upon sheet material and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for assembling the peripheral forepart member or vamp of 5 an imitation moccasin upper and the top piece or tongue of such an upper preparatory to the uniting of these parts by a sewn seam.

One method of assembling the vamp and the tongue of an imitation moccasin upper consists in beveling the adjacent edges of the parts, applying adhesive to those edges, and pressing said edges together at their toe ends in an arrangement determined by the registration of a prick punch in the margin of the tongue with a similar prick punch in the margin of the vamp. Similarly the ends of the wing portions of the vamp have their edges brought into registration with the beveled edge of the tongue. After the parts have been thus arranged the beveled edges are manually pressed together beginning at one end of the line of union and working progressively to the opposite end. In some cases the beveled. edges are pressed together by means of pliers specially designed for that purpose. The unit ing of the parts by means of pressure which is alternately applied and released progressively throughout the line of union sometimes leaves a rough, uneven joint between the parts. This condition is undesirable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling the tongue and the vamp which may be relied upon to leave the surface of the upper smooth and even .along the line of union of-the parts. Accordingly, a feature of the 35 invention comprises a method of assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper which, as herein exemplified, consists in applying adhesive to the surfaces to be united, arranging certain points in said surfaces in correct relation to each other and then progressively applying even, uniform and uninterrupted rolling pressure to the parts to effect a bond therebetween.

It is customary to use latex to secure the beveled edges of the vamp and the tongue together preparatory to the stitching operation and it has been found that the bond which is effected between the edges of the parts by pressing said edges together by hand is often insufficient to hold the edges together during the stitching operation. With this in View it is a further object of the invention to provide a machine for pressing the beveled edges of the parts firmly and evenly together with a pressure suilicient to insure a continuing bond of the parts during the stitching operation.

To this end, a feature of the invention contemplates the provision in a machine for operating upon sheet material of a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material, and interengaging rolls arranged to engage adjacent marginal portions of the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of feed whereby said rolls exert a wiping action on the parts of the work, thus urging them toward each other between said rolls. In the illustrated machine the work engaging rolls, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, are pivoted to a presser for pressingsaid rolls against the work.

It is not unusual for the thickness of the beveled edge of the vamp to vary considerably from the thickness of the edge of the tongue and it is also common for either of said beveled edges to be slightly thicker at one point than it is at other points. It is therefore desirable that the work presser above referred to be arranged to adjust itself to such varying conditions of the work, and accordingly, there is provided, in the illustrated machine, in accordance with a feature of the invention, a work presser which is self-adjusting in all directions common to a plane disposed transversely to the line of feed.

It is desirable that the beveled edges of the work be brought together with the upper surface of the vamp exactly coinciding with the upper surface of the tongue along the line of union. In order to effect this result it is desirable that the lateral feed of the beveled edges toward each other be uniform. In order so to regulate the lateral feed it is desirable that the direction of the forward feed of the work be accurately determined and controlled. Accordingly a feature of the invention comprises an organization including, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material, rolls arranged to engage the Work on lines extending in convergent relation to the directionof feed, and a work guide provided with angular guideways constructed and arranged to receive opposite edges of the parts, to arrange said edges in juxtaposition, and to hold the parts out of contact with each other as they approach the rolls. In the illustrated machine the direction of feed is determined, in accordance with a feature of the invention, by a member provided with guideways for guiding the parts of the Work as they approach the rolls.

It has been found that as the point of operation progresses about the curve at the toe end of the upper the member which feeds the vamp must operate at a considerably greater speed than the member which feeds the tongue, the differential speed of the feeding elements depending upon the radius of curvature of the line of union of the parts. It is important that the force applied to the tongue to feed it forwardly be substantially equal to the force applied to the vamp as otherwise the part to which the greater force was applied would tend to advance relatively to the other part and thus cause a disarrangement of the work. Therefore, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, the machine shown in the drawings is provided with means for feeding the vamp, means for feeding the tongue, means for actuating said feeding means, and a differential mechanism between the actuating means and the feeding means. As illustrated, and in accordance with a still further feature of the invention, the differential mechanism comprises a constant speed rotor and connections between the rotor and each of the feeding elements whereby said feeding elements have a differential speed determined by the difference between the resistances of the tongue and the vamp to the feed.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and com binations of parts, will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an imitation moccasin upper assembling machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section in side elevation through the center of the work supporting post;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the work in connection with the work engaging rolls and the work guiding means;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the rolls looking in a direction perpendicular to the common plane of their axes and illustrating in section the top of the work supporting post and associated parts and. a fragment of the work;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view indicating the lines on which the work engaging rolls respectively engage the work, and indicating also the wiping action exerted on the work by the rolls;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the work guiding member;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line VIIVII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a broken front elevation illustrating the work pressing member and associated parts;

Fig. 9 is a broken perspective view of the differential mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line X-X of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a broken perspective view illustrating particularly a work guiding device for assisting in turning the work as the point of operation progresses about the curved end of the toe; and

Fig. 12 is a broken sectional view taken substantially on the line XIIXII of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 the invention is illustrated as embodied in a bench machine to which power is applied from any convenient source through a belt 20, a pulley 22, and a driving shaft 24 to which the pulley is secured.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, there is provided a cylindrical work support extending forwardly and upwardly from the front of the machine frame and arranged to receive the work at its upper end. As herein illustrated, the work consists of a vamp 25 of an imitation moccasin upper which is supported upon the cylindrical surface of the work support at its upper extremity and a tongue or plug 28 which is positioned upon the top of the work support. The Work support consists of a post 30 surrounded by coaxial rotary sleeves 36 and 38. The lower end of the post 30 is positioned within a tubular portion 32 of the machine frame and secured there to by a set screw 34 (Fig. 12). The sleeve 36 is rotatably mounted on the post 30 and arranged to be actuated by the driving shaft 24, through connections hereinafter described, to feed the tongue. The outer sleeve 38 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 36 and arranged to be actuated in like manner to feed the vamp. At its upper end the sleeve 36 is provided with a slightly upturned beveled flange 40 having an exterior diameter substantially the same as the exterior diameter of the sleeve 38. The upper end of the sleeve 38 is beveled for sliding engagement with the under surface ofthe beveled flange 40 and also to permit the outer edge of said sleeve to be positioned substantially adjacent to the outer edge of the beveled flange. The outer sleeve 38 has teeth 42 formed in its exterior surface for feeding engagement with the vamp 26. The teeth 42 are cut on a bias, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby their lower extremities are arranged in advance of their upper extremities in order that the teeth may urge the vamp upwardly as it is fed through the machine. Similarly, the upper surface of the flange 40 has teeth 44 formed therein for feeding engagement with the under surface of the tongue 28 which teeth are also out on a bias with their inner extremities in advance of their outer extremities, as shown in Fig. 11, in order that the edge of the tongue may be urged against the edge of the vamp as the tongue is fed forwardly through the machine. In order that the circular ilange of the sleeve 36 may operate to impart a straight line feeding movement to the tongue 28 a discoidal shield 46 is arranged between the flange 40 and the under surface of the tongue, said shield being cut away at 41 to permit the flange 40 to engage the under surface of the tongue at a location adjacent to the edge of the tongue, as shown in Fig.

4. The shield 46 is secured to the work supporting post 30 by a screw 48 and is held against rotation by a tongue and groove connection with the upper end of said post. The upper surface of the shield is preferably located substantially coincident with the plane of the edge of the flange 40, thereby permitting the tongue 28 to be so positioned relatively to the work feeding teeth 44 that a slight depression of the tongue will bring its under surface into engagement with said teeth.

The teeth 44 are prevented from coming in actual J contact with the under surface of the shield 46 by a circular boss 49 formed in the under surface of the shield for engagement with a shoulder formed in the sleeve 36 (Fig. 2). The shield extends outwardly from the boss 49 in the form of a circular beveled flange the under surface of which has substantially the same inclination as the upper surface of the beveled flange 40 formed in the sleeve 36.

The vamp and tongue are pressed against their feeding members by a presser in the form of a a vertical arm 50 slidably mounted between parallel ears 52 projecting forwardly from a bracket 54 secured to the forward surface of the overhanging upper portion of the machine frame.

presser arm 50 in the general direction in which the work is fed. As best shown in Fig. 1 the presser arm is maintained in'its position between the ears 52 by a cross pin 60 arranged to engage within a vertical slot 62 provided in the presser arm, said slot being substantially wider than the diameter of the cross pin in order to permit a limited movement of the lower end of the presser arm transversely of the direction of the feed. At its upper end the presser arm 59 is pivoted to the bifurcated forward end of a treadle actuated lever 64 which in turn is pivoted at 66 to the machine frame. As shown in Fig. 8, the forward ends of the lever 64 are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the adjustment of the presser arm in the direction of the feed. The presser arm is urged toward the work by a tension spring 68 the lower end of which is attached to the machine frame and the upper end of which is attached to the forward end of an auxiliary lever l pivoted to the machine frame coaxially with the lever 64 and arranged within a longitudinal slot provided in said lever (Fig. 1). The auxiliary lever 10 has a rearwardly extending tail portion 12 arranged to be engaged by an abutment screw 74 threaded into a tapped hole in a lug 16 formed on the lever 64. t will thus be seen that the tension spring 68 acting through the auxiliary lever is and the abutment screw M urges the forward end of the lever 6t downwardly, and it will also be seen that by adjusting the abutment screw M the operator may vary the tension of the spring 68 in order to get the desired amount of pressure upon the work. In order to prevent the presser from bearing against the teeth of the feeding members when the machine is at rest an abutment screw it is threaded into a lug 30 on the lever 64 and arranged to engage a boss 82 formed in the machine frame. At its lower end the presser arm has pivoted thereto work engaging rolls 84 and 86 positioned in tangential relation to each other, and arranged for engagement with the vampand the tongue, respectively, .the intersecting axes of said rolls being disposed at an angle of 90 to each other. The roll 84 is arranged within an open end slot 88 provided in a downwardly and forwardly extending foot portion 92 at the lower end of the presser arm 55 while the roll 86 is pivoted to a headed screw as secured to the forward surface of said foot portion. The pivot screw 80 also operates as a set screw for a pivot'pin 92 upon which the roll 84 is pivoted. The rolls are preferably arranged with their axes at a right angle to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, and each of the rolls is so arranged that the plane in which it rotates is arranged substantially at right angles to the surface of the work with which it engages,

as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably, the rolls are pivoted on ball bearings in order that they may be freely rotated by the forward feed of the work.

In order that the rolls 8 1 and 85 may feed the vamp and the tongue toward each other and press their adjacent edges firmly together as the work is fed forwardly through the machine each of the rolls is arranged to engage the work on a line extending in convergent relation to the direction of the forward feed, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5. It has been foundthat the best results are secured by so arranging each of the rolls that it engages the work on a line arranged at an angle of approximately 1 to the direction of feed. Referring to Fig. 4, the work engaging surfaces of the rolls 84 and as are formed with a curvature such that the margins of the .workadjacent ,to-the united beveled edge faces may extend into and substantially fill the spacebetween said rolls. It will thus be seen that the rolls -84 and .86, when pressedagainst the work the work in order that said rolls, by virtue of their convergent relation to the direction of the forward feed, may exert a wiping action on the tongue and vamp in order to feed them toward each other and crowd their beveled edges into the space between the work engaging surfaces of the rolls with a pressure sufiicient to create a secure bond between the beveled edges, which have been coated with latex or other suitable adhesive to cause them to adhere. Inasmuch as the wipingaction of the rolls on the tongue and vamp is dependent upon their continual rotation by the forward feed of the work, it is desirable that the rolls rotate with the least possible friction and, accordingly, they are pivoted on ball bearings one of which is shown at 95 in Fig. 3. It has been learned that the pressure of the edges of the work against each other produced by the lateral feed is sufficient to cause the work to bind or jam between the rolls unless means is provided for limiting the upward movement of the edges of th work between the work engaging surfaces of the rolls. Accordingly, a hub 96 is formed in the roll 86 and arranged to limit the upward movement of the edges of the work between the work engaging surfaces of. the rolls. The hub 96 also serves as an abutment for the outer margin of the roll 184, thus preventing any displacement of the roll 34 by the tension of the spring 68 or by the crowding action of the work. A similar hub 97 on the roll 84 prevents any displacement of the roll 86 by the tension of the spring 68.

As has been stated, there is afforded the presser arm 5% a limited freedom or movement transversely of the direction of the feed. The work engaging rolls are thus permitted to adjust themselves to variations in the thickness of one part of the work relatively to the other part in order that the rolls may, at all times, bear against the vamp and the tongue with abalanced and uniform pressure.

It has been found desirable to determine accurately the direction of the feed of the work toward the work engaging rolls in order that the tongue and vamp may be brought into engagement with the rolls at points substantially in the illustrated machine the direction of the forward feed is determined by an L-shaped arm 99 provided with a guiding 33 formed integrally therewith and depending from its free end and provided also with a lip 55! forming an acute angle with'the fin 98 in order to form a. guideway for i the tongue 28, as shown in Fig. '7. In order to form a similar guideway for the vamp 26 the shank H33 of the arm 92 is arranged to form an acute angle with the fin 98 for the reception of the beveled edge of the vamp. As best shown in Fig. '7, said guideways receive opposite edges of the outer surface of the work parts and arrange said edges in juxtaposition. In the illustrated machine the L-shaped arm is adjustably secured to the presser arm 50 by a clamping screw I00. The fin 98 not only serves as part of the work guiding means but also serves as a guard to space the cemented edges of the tongue and vamp apart from each other until they reach the point where they are brought into engagement and pressed together by the rolls. As best shown in Fig. 5 the work engaging surfaces of the fin 98 converge in the direction of the forward feed in order to avoid interference with the lateral feed of the tongue and vamp toward each other.

It is of the utmost importance that the adjacent beveled edges of the tongue and the vamp have no appreciable longitudinal movement relatively to each other during the assembling operation. It is, therefore, desirable that the adjacent edges of the work be fed forwardly by the work engaging surfaces of the sleeves 36 and 33 at the same speed. In order to effect this result as the point of operation progresses about the toe of the upper it is necessary for the sleeve 38 which feeds the vamp to rotate faster than the inner sleeve 38 which feeds the tongue. To this end a differential mechanism is provided between the driving shaft 24 and the work feeding sleeves. As herein illustrated the differential mechanism, which is best illustrated in Fig. 2, is arranged to be actuated by a sleeve I02 arranged to be driven by the driving shaft 24 through a worm I04 secured to its forward end and arranged to mesh with a worm gear I65 secured to the sleeve I02 by screws I08 extending through a flange I I formed in the sleeve and into tapped holes in the worm gear.

The worm gear is maintained in concentric relation to the sleeve I02 by the engagement of a hub II2 formed on the sleeve within a recess formed in the worm gear. The sleeve I02 is arranged to rotate upon the lower portion of the work supporting post 3!! and is supported by the upper end of the tubular portion 32 of the machine frame within which the post is secured at 34 (Fig. 12). The sleeve I02 is provided at its upper end with notches II I (Figs. 2 and 9) arranged diametrically opposite each other and provided with parallel vertical sides for the reception of slabbed-off portions of studs H5 extending radially outward from a ring II8 rotatably mounted on the sleeve 38. Small bevel gears I20 are pivoted to the studs H6 and are confined between slabbed-off portions of the ring H8 and fiat inner surfaces of the sleeve I02. The bevel gears I20 mesh with a bevel crown gear I 22 which in turn is journaled on the post 30, said post, at that point and from there on upwarchy to its end, being somewhat reduced in diameter in order to provide a sufficient space between the sleeve I02 and the post 3-9 for the crown gear and the sleeve 36, which sleeve is received within the crown gear and seated upon its hub. The sleeve 36 is locked to the hub of the crown gear by the engagement of tongues I24 formed thereon within a slot I25 (Fig. extending diametrically across the hub of the crown gear. The upper end of the sleeve I6 2 is bored concentrically thereof for approximately half its length for the reception of the crown gear I22, the lower extremity of said bore providing a shoulder for supporting a ball bearing assembly H8 upon which the crown gear is seated. The outer sleeve 38, which operates to feed the vamp, is arranged to embrace the sleeve 36 and is supported by the upper end of a barrel I30. The barrel is provided, approximately midway of its length, with a web I32 whereby it is secured to the edge of an opening provided in the front of the machine frame, said web serving also as a closure for said opening (Fig. 1). A ball bearing assembly I34 is interposed between the upper end of the barrel I30 and a flange I 36 formed in the sleeve 38. Bevel gear teeth I38 are formed at the lower end of the sleeve for engagement with the bevel gears I20. The teeth I38 are held in mesh with bevel gears I20 by the shield 45 which acts through the flange 40 formed in the sleeve 36 to prevent upward movement of the sleeve 30 (Fig. 2). The shield 46 also operates to prevent any upward movement of the sleeve 35 upon the post 30 and acts through a concentric shoulder M0 formed in the sleeve 36, and arranged to engage the upper surface of the ring H8, to prevent displacement of the ring.

In order to assist the operator in guiding the work as the point of operation progresses about the toe end of the upper, there is provided a finger I42 (Figs. 2 and 11) which may be depressed by the operator to bring it into engagement with the tongue 23 at approximately the center about which the tongue turns as the point of operation progresses about the curved end of the toe. The finger 542 acts as a pivot for guiding the turning movement of the upper and thus makes it unnecessary for the operator to take hold of the upper and turn it by hand. In order that the finger I42, which is carried .by the presser arm 59, may be adjusted to compensate for the adjustment of the presser in the direction of the forward feed, the finger is mounted within a hollow cylinder I44 extending downwardly from the end of an arm I46 which is pivoted on the pin 94 said pin being extended upwardly from the foot of the presser arm 50 to receive the arm I48. In order that the finger I42 may be secured in the desired position, a split clamp IE8 is formed in the arm I46, said clamp being provided with a clamping screw having a hurled head I50 arranged for con venient manipulation by the operator. The finger I42 is normally held out of contact with the work by a spring I52 coiled about the finger and arranged between the arm I 18 and the head I54 of said finger.

The operation is as follows: Adhesive having been applied to the beveled edges of the tongue 28 and the vamp said edges are manually united by the operator at the point indicated by r the numeral I56 in Fig. 3, the position of the parts relatively to each other being accurately defined by the registration of holes priclred near the edges of the tongue the vamp, respectively. The presser arm 50 is then lifted by actuating the treadle I58 and the united edges of the parts are placed on the. work supporting column beneath the rolls 84 and 8%. The treadle is then released to permit the tension spring E8 to press the rolls against the work. The edges of the work, at a point slightly in advance of the point of operation, are arranged on opposite sides of the fin 98 (Fig. 5). The work having been brought into position, power is applied to the feed mechanism in order to transfer the point of operation progressively about the toe of the upper. As the point of operation progresses about the curve at the toe end of the upper the sleeve 38 which feeds the vamp 26 travels faster than the sleeve 36 which feeds the tongue 28, the variation in the speeds of the two sleeves depending upon the radius of curvature of the toe end of the tongue. The feeding of the work is effected by the driving shaft 24 through the worm use and worm gear I06 which operate through the sleeve I02 to rotate the ring H8 at a constant rate of speed. The ring H8 actuates the sleeve 38 through the engagement of the bevel gears I20 with the beveled teeth E38 formed in the base of said sleeve. The ring l 88 actuates the inner sleeve 36 through the engagement of the bevel gears lZfl with the crown gear 122 to which the base of the sleeve 36 is locked. Thus, it will be seen that the driving shaft may drive one of the sleeves inde Patent of the United States is:

1. That method of assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper which consists in applying adhesive to the surfaces to be united, arranging certain points in said surfaces in correct relation to each other and then progressively applying even, uniform and uninterrupted rolling pressure to the parts to effect a bond therebetween.

2. That method of assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper which consists in applying adhesive to the surfaces to be united, uniting the parts at one extremity of the line of union and then progressively applying even, uniform and uninterrupted rolling pressure to the parts to effect a bond therebetween.

3. That method of assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper which consists in applying adhesive to the surfaces to be united, arranging certain points in said surfaces in correct relation to each other, applying pressure to the parts to effect a bond therebetween, and continuously feeding the' work while the pressure thereon is maintained.

4. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material, and inter-engaging rolls arranged to engage adjacent marginal portions of the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of feed and to press said marginal portions therebetween.

5. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material, and inter-engaging rolls arranged to engage adjacent marginal portions of the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of feed in order to draw the parts laterally toward each other and press their adjacent edges together between said rolls.

6. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material, rolls arranged to engage the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of feed, and a work guide provided with angular guideways constructed and arranged to receive opposite edges of the parts, to arrange said edges in juxtaposition, and to hold the parts out of contact with each other as they approach the rolls.

'7. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison edges of sheet material, rolls arranged to engage the work on lines extending inconvergent relation to the direction of feed in order to draw the parts laterally toward eachother and press their adjacent edges together, and means for guiding the parts comprising an arm provided with a'fin constructed and arranged to be positioned between the parts and arranged to form with the arm angular guideways constructed and arranged to receive opposite edges of the parts, to arrange said edges'in juxtaposition, and to hold the parts out of contact with each other as they approach the rolls.

8. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material comprising coaxial rotary feed.- ing members, a presser for pressing the parts against the feeding members, and rolls carried. by said presser and constructed and arranged to engage the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the directionof feed.

9. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism comprising coaxial rotary feeding members, a presser for pressing the parts against the feeding members, work engaging rolls carried by said presser, and means for driving said feeding members.

10. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism comprising coaxial rotary feeding members, apresser for pressing the parts against the feeding members, work engaging rolls carried by said presser and arranged to feed the parts toward each other, and means for driving said feeding members.

11. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, feed mechanism comprising coaxialrotary feeding members, a presser for pressing the work against said feeding members and arranged for adjustment in the direction of the feed, and means for driving said feeding members.

12. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism and a work presser self adjusting in all. directions common to a plane disposed transversely to the line of feed.

13. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, means for'feeding the work, a Work presser, and Work engaging rolls carried by the presser, said presser being self adjusting in all directions common to a plane disposed transversely to the direction of feed whereby the rolls engage the work with a balanced and uniform pressure.

14. In a machine for operating. upon'sheet material, a feed mechanism, a workpresser arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to and disposed transversely to the directionof feed and self adjusting in any direction within said plane While held from displacement from said plane.

15. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism, and a work presser provided with inter-engagingwork engaging rolls arranged to engage adjacent'marginal portions of the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of the feed andcto press the adjacent edge faces of the work together there.- between.

16. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism, and a work presser provided with inter-engaging work engaging rollsarranged to engage the Work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of the feed whereby said rolls exert. a wiping actionon the parts of the: workthus urging. them toward each other.

17. In a machine for:uniting cemented edges of sheet material, a work support, means for continuously feeding the work forwardly, separate means arranged to be actuated by the forward feed to feed the cemented edges toward each other and to press them firmly together, and means arranged to be positioned between the cemented edges to space the cemented edges apart from one another until they reach the pressing point.

18. In a machine for uniting cemented edges of sheet material, a work support, means for continuously feeding the work forwardly, separate means arranged to be actuated by the forward feed to feed the cemented edges toward each other and to press them firmly together, and a guard arranged to be positioned between the cemented edges in order to space the cemented edges apart from one another until they reach the pressing point.

19. In a machine for assembling parts of sheet material, a work support constructed and arranged to support the parts at a right angle to each other, means for feeding the work forwardly, and a pair of rolls arranged to feed the parts laterally toward each other to bring edges of the parts together.

20. In a machine for assembling parts of sheet material, a work support constructed and arranged to support the parts at a right angle to each other, means for feeding the work forwardly, and means for feeding the parts toward each other in order to bring their edges together comprising a pair of work engaging rolls each of which is arranged to engage the work on a line extending in convergent relation to the direction of the forward feed.

21. In a machine for assembling parts of sheet material, a work support, means for feeding the work forwardly, and means for simultaneously feeding the parts toward each other in order to bring their edges together comprising a pair of rolls provided with transversely rounded peripheral surfaces arranged to be pressed into the work on lines extending in convergent relation to the direction of the forward feed whereby the forward feed causes the rolls to rotate and to feed the parts toward each other.

22. In a machine for uniting beveled edges of sheet material, a work support on which the parts to be united are disposed substantially at right angles to each other at the operating point, means for feeding the work forwardly, and means arranged to be actuated by the forward feed to feed the beveled edges toward each other and to press them firmly and evenly together.

23. In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper, means for feeding the tongue, means for feeding the vamp, means for actuating said feeding means, and a differential mechanism between the actuating means and the feeding means.

24. In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper, a member constructed and arranged to feed the tongue, a member constructed and arranged to feed the vamp, a constant speed rotor, and connections between the rotor and each of said feeding members whereby said feeding members have a differential speed determined by the difference between the resistances of the tongue and the vamp to the feed.

25. .In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper, a rotary feeding member arranged to feed the vamp, a coaxial rotary feeding member arranged to feed the tongue, a constant speed rotor for actuating said feeding members and a differential mechanism connecting the rotor and the feeding members.

26. In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper, a rotary feeding member arranged to feed the vamp, a coaxial rotary feeding member arranged to feed the tongue, a constant speed rotor for actuating said feeding members, a differential mechanism connecting the rotor and the feeding members, and a presser for pressing the work against said feeding members.

27. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison two parts disposed substantially at right angles to each other, comprising coaxial rotary sleeves one of which is contained within the other, the outer sleeve having a cylindrical feeding surface arranged for engagement with one of said parts of sheet material and the inner sleeve having an annular feeding surface arranged for engagement with the other of said parts, and means for driving said sleeves.

28. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison two parts disposed substantially at right angles to each other, comprising coaxial rotary sleeves one of which is contained within the other, the outer sleeve having a cylindrical feeding surface arranged for engagement with one of said parts of sheet material and the inner sleeve having an annular feeding surface arranged for engagement with the other of said parts, driving means for said sleeves, and a differential mechanism connecting the driving means and the sleeves.

29. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison two parts disposed substantially at right angles to each other, comprising coaxial rotary sleeves one of which is contained within the other, the outer sleeve having a cylindrical feeding surface arranged for engagement with one of said parts of sheet material and the inner sleeve having an annular feeding surface arranged for engagement with the other of said parts, said feeding surfaces being provided with serrations arranged at an angle to the direction of feed such that the parts are urged toward each other in the course of feed.

30. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison two parts disposed substantially at right angles to each other comprising coaxial rotary sleeves, one of which is contained within the other, the outer sleeve having a cylindrical feeding surface arranged for engagement with one of said parts of sheet material, and the inner sleeve having at one end an annular feeding surface arranged for engagement with the other of said parts, a non-rotating shield partially covering the annular feeding surface of the inner sleeve, and means for driving said sleeves.

31. In a machine for uniting beveled edges of sheet material, a presser comprising an arm movable toward and from the work, a pair of rolls pivoted to the arm and arranged for engagement with the work at opposite sides of the line of union, and work supporting members arranged in opposition to said rolls comprising coaxial rotary sleeves, one of which is contained within the other, the outer sleeve having a cylindrical work supporting surface and the inner sleeve having an annular work supporting surface.

32. In a machine for uniting edges of sheet material, a presser comprising an arm movable toward and from the work in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of feed, a pair of rolls pivoted to the arm and arranged for engagement with the work at opposite sides of the line of union, said presser being self adjusting transversely of the direction of feed in order to accommodate the rolls to variations in the thickness of adjacent parts of the work.

33. In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper, a pivot member arranged to be pressed against the tongue in order to guide the work as the point of operation progresses about the toe.

34. In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and vamp of an upper, a pivot finger, normally inoperative, arranged to be pressed manually against the tongue order to guide the work as the point of operation progresses about the toe.

35. In a machine for progressively assembling the tongue and the vamp of an upper, a Work support, work feeding means, a presser for pressing the work against said support and arranged for adjustment in the direction of the feed, a pivot member carried by the presser and arranged to be pressed against the tongue at approximately the center of curvature at the toe, and arranged for adjustment to compensate for the adjustment of the presser in the direction of the feed.

36. In a machine for operating on sheet material, means for progressively pressing together juxtaposed edge faces comprising inter-engaging rolls positioned in tangential relation to each other, and constructed and arranged to receive the work between their edge faces.

37. In a machine for operating on sheet material, means for progressively pressing together juxtaposed edge faces comprising inter-engaging rolls having their axes arranged at right angles to each other, said rolls being positioned in tangential relation to each other, and constructed and arranged to receive the work between their edge faces.

38. In a machine for operating on sheet material, means for progressively pressing together juxtaposed edge faces comprising rolls each of which rotates in a plane disposed substantially at right angles to the surface of the work which it engages, said rolls being positioned in tangential relation to each other, and constructed and arranged to press the work between their edge faces.

39. In a machine for operating on sheet material, means for progressively pressing together juxtaposed edge faces comprising rolls each of 5 which engages the work on a line extending in convergent relation to the line of union of said edge faces, said rolls being positioned in tangential relation to each other, and constructed and arranged to receive the work between their 10 edge faces.

40. In a machine for operating on sheet material, means for progressively pressing together juxtaposed edge faces comprising rolls each of which engages the work on a line extending in 15 convergent relation to the line of union of said edge faces, said rolls being positioned in tangential relation to each other, and constructed and arranged to receive the work between their edge faces and to wipe the marginal portions of the work transversely thereof toward the line of union in order to cause the adjacent marginal portions of the work to advance into the space between the edge faces of the rolls at the point of tangency.

41. In a machine for operating on sheet material, means for progressively pressing together juxtaposed edge faces comprising rolls each of which engages the work on a line extending in convergent relation to the line of union of said edge faces, said rolls being positioned in tangential relation to each other, and constructed and arranged to receive the work between their edge faces and to wipe the marginal portions of the work transversely thereof toward the line of union in order to cause the adjacent marginal portions of the work to advance into and substantially to fill the space between the edge faces of the rolls at the point of tangency, and means for limiting the transverse movement of the marginal portions of the work comprising a hub formed on one of said rolls and constructed and arranged to engage the other roll.

42. In a machine for operating upon sheet material, a feed mechanism for feeding in unison parts of sheet material and simultaneously bringing together opposite edge faces of said parts, and rolls arranged to engage adjacent marginal portions of the work, to press said edge faces of the work together therebetween, and to form a ridge from said adjacent marginal portions.

LESTER S. MACDONALD. 

